Disk-shaped commutator for gyroscope-motors



H. SUNDHAUSSEN. msx SHAPED COMMUTATOH FOR GYBOSCOPE MOTORS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15. 1921.

1,398,404. Patent dNov. 29, 1921.

7 Fig.1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN SUNDHAUSSEN, OF ESSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FRIED. KRUPP AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY.

DISK-SHAPED COMMUTATOR FOR GYBOSCOPE-MOTORS.

Application filed January 15, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN SUND- HAUSSEN, residing at Essen, Germany, a citizen of the German Republic, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Disk-Shaped Commutators for Gyroscope-Motors, (for which I have filed an application in Germany November 11,1918), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to disk-shaped commutators for gyroscope motors and has for its object to produce a commutator of this type which will possess a long life even when the number of revolutions executed by the gyroscope motor is very high and, as a result, the commutator sectors are subjected to a heavy wear, and thereby enabling a satisfactory working of the gyroscope motor to be secured which will not be disturbed either by the formation of sparks nor by variations in the number of revolutions.

In the drawing afiixed to this specification and, forming part thereof, a disk-shaped commutator designed for a continuous current gyroscope motor having a vertical axis and embodying the invention is illustrated together with parts of the appropriate motor armature, by way of example. In the drawing Figure 1 is a vertical section through the commutator, and p Fig. 2 is a top view. I

Referring to this drawing, each sector of the commutator comprises two elements A and B interconnected by means of screws C,

- of'which the upper element, A, serves asthe bearing surface forthe armature brushes D, and which hereinafter is designated the fsliding sector, whereas the lower element B, which is designed to establish the connection with the armature winding and supportsthe appropriate sliding sector A is hereinafter indicated as the supporting sector. 7

The supporting sectors B are made in the form of ring sectors as shown in Fig. 2 and are inserted, with the interposition of nonconductive material, in an annular depression formed in a disk-shaped element E which for its part is rigidly connected to the armature body forming the gyratin mass of the gyroscope, and which encircles t e armature shaft 6 after the manner of a hub. The supporting sectors B are secured against radlal displacement by a pressmg rlng G tightly embracing the supporting sectors B Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 437,604.

on the outside and bearing up against a circular ledge e which limits the depression formed in the disk E a layer of non-conducting material being arranged between the sectors B and the ring G. In addition, the supporting sectors B and therewith the sliding sectors A screwed down on them are secured, against any liability of those of their portions disposed close to the axis of rotation of the motor being lifted off from their base due to the action of centrifugal force, by a ring K screwed upon the hubshaped portion of the disk E and which ring with its lower face resting on ledge 6 is provided to hold each sector B, down upon its base. Between the ring K and the supporting sectors B there is interposed a ring F of non-conducting material. Into the upper face of each supporting sector B there is tooled a rectangular, radially disposed groove ?2 (Fig. 2) into which the re spective sliding sectors A are inserted. The ends a of the sliding sectors A facing the axis of rotation of the gyroscope motor extend unsupported beyond the two rings F and K forming the internal elements of the fastening means for the supporting sectors B and cover them, while those parts of the upper surface of said ends a contiguous to the axis of rotation form the bearing surface for the brushes D. These unsupported ends a are moreover tapered wedgewise to such an extent that the vertical side faces of each entire commutator sector comprising a sliding sector A and a supporting sector B, will be located in one and the same vertical plane. The gaps between the side faces of the sectors B disposed with a slight space apart from and in parallel to, each other, are filled with a non-conducting material. The sliding sectors A are secured against any undesirable centrifugal action by a removable steel ring H tightly embracing a ring J ofa non-conducting material which ring J bears up with its inside face against the sliding sectors A and the outer,

Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

stepped portions of the supporting sectors fore a commutator is produced which is strong and durable, easy to repair and which is furthermore unaffected by the formation of sparks or by variations in speed. The extraordinary long life of the improved commutator is due to'the fact thatthe slidingsurface for the brushes is located in direct vicinity of the axis of rotation of the gyroscope motor. For by these means,-on the one hand, the peripheral velocity of two portions of the sliding sectors A with which the brushes D make contact is reduced-to a minimum, so thateven in the case of the gyroscope'motor working at a very high speed, the frictional and accordingly the mechanical wear of the parts will be comparatively low. On the other hand, the vibratory motions about its horizontal central position, of the sliding surface for the brushes is located in the immediate vicinity of the axis of rotation of the motor, which motions are provoked by the high number ofrotations of the gyroscope body, will be less than in'thecase of a sliding surface arranged at a greater distance remote from the axis of rotation. Hence, the resilient brush holders (not shown) are enabled in this case to more securelymaintain the brushes in a position which will warrant a good contact,

when such vibratory motions take place. But owing to the fact that the brushes constantly bear up with their full face against the sliding surface, there exists absolute security that the formation of sparks is obviated, which would tend to deteriorate the friction between the, brushes and the sliding surface, and'thus reduce the number of revolutions of the gyroscope motor to an objectionable degree and moreover quickly wear down the sliding sectors A. Careful longrun tests undertaken to. this end have shown that with the extremely high number of revolutions at which, gyroscope motors of the type specified are operated, a sliding surface having a diameter twice as large aS that made in accordance with the presentconstruction and such as was, customarily provided for commutator sectorsof the old type, resulted in considerable variations of thenumber of, revolutions and such a strong formation of sparks that the commutator sectors had to be replaced after working periods which were from five to seven times shorter than the working periods secured by aid of. the hereinbefore-described commutator sectors which work entirely without spark formation or variations of speed The advantage that only short working intervals are required is due to the fact that;

inyorder to remove any sliding sectors A which may happen to be worn down, all

that need be done is to slacken the screws C whereupon the sliding sectors A may be conveniently removed from the grooves 6 while a disconnection and removal of the point of application of the centrifugal force lies, about, on a level with the upper end plane of the circular ledge g of the pressing ring G. By these means there is prevented an increase ofthe pressure existing between the brushes D and their sliding surface, and thus an increase of friction liable to augment the wear of the sliding sectors A and to reduce the number of revolutions of the motor to an objectionable extent.

Claims, r 1. A disk-shaped commutator of the class described comprising a supporting element, --a multiplicity of supporting sectors mounted thereon, a corresponding number of sliding sectors secured to said supporting sectors, means for securing said supporting sectors to said supporting element so that said sliding sectors may be removed without disconnecting said securing means.

2; A disk-shaped commutator for motors of the class described; comprising a supporting disk-shapedelement provided with a hub portion, supporting sectors mounted upon said supporting element, each of said supporting sectors being provided with a ledge portion disposed; adjacent the hubof said supporting element,'sliding sectors secured to said supporting sector, a ring screwed upon said hub and abutting said supporting sectors on said ledges, securing rings for retaining said sectors in place,

saidsliding sectors beinge o ble without disconnecting said securing rings. 7

, 3. A disk-shapedcommutator for motors of the class described comprising a recessed disk-shaped supporting element, said supporting element being providedwith a hub portion, a multiplicity of supportinglsectors mounted on said supporting element, said supporting sectors being cut away to form ledges which are disposed adjacent said hub portion, a securing member screwthreadedly engaging said hub portion and contacting; said supporting sectors on said ledges, sliding sectors 'removably secured to said, supporting sectors, said sliding sectors. being disposed so that theirends face the axis of rotation of the motor, the ends of said sliding sectors being adapted to contact with the brushes, and securing elements for retaining said sectors in position upon said supporting element.

r &. A'disk-shaped commutator for motors of the class described comprising a supporting element, supporting sectors mounted on said supporting element, a securing ring engaging said supporting element and supporting sectors for holding said supporting sectors in place, sliding sectors secured to said supporting sectors, said sliding sectors being provided with freely extending ends which face the axis of rotation of the motor, said ends covering said securing ring.

5. A disk-shaped commutator of the class described in combination With a motor comprising a supporting element provided with a hub portion, a multiplicity of supporting sectors mounted thereon, each sector being shaped to form a ledge disposed adjacent said hub portion, sliding sectors removably secured to said supporting sectors, a ring screW-threadedly engaging said hub and bearing upon the ledges formed on said supporting sectors to prevent vertical displacement due to centrifugal action, a pressure ring abutting the outer ends of said supporting sectors and said supporting element and additional rings engaging said sectors to prevent any radial displacement thereof.

The foregoing specification signed at Essen, Germany, this 9th day of December, 1920.

HERMANN SUNDHAUSSEN.

In presence of- HANS GOTTSMANN, J OHANN DECKERS. 

